Sleeping bag design

ABSTRACT

Improved method of manufacturing sleeping bags including the formation of interior and exterior tubes for more efficient insulation.

United States Patent 1191 Hibbert et al.

Oct. 8,1974

SLEEPING BAG DESIGN Inventors: Wayne G. Hibbert, Trenton, NJ.; S. David Harris, Newtown, Pa.

Assignee: Atlantic Products Corporation,

Trenton, NJ.

Filed; 2 Feb. 2 1973 Appl. No.: 329,025

US. Cl. 5/343, 5 /334 R Int. Cl A47g 9/00 Fieldoi Search 5/334 R, 358, 360, 343;. 112/40 410,420; 29/91; 161/46, 53, 127, 128, 139

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,360,196 v11/1920 Delaney .L 161/53 X 2,960,702 ll/l960 Linke et a] 5/334 R Prima ry Examiner-James C. Mitchell [571 ABSTRACT Improved method of mannfacturing sleeping bags including the formation of interior and exteriortnbes for more efficient insulation. a

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SLEEPING BAG DESIGN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to sleeping bags and to methods of constructing the same. Sleeping bags have long been known in the art and generally seek to provide for the comfort and protection of the occupant when sleeping outdoors. With a recent emphasis on leisure time activities such ascamping, the need for a .Kaplan; 2,711,546 to Licht; 2,972,757 to Adrian;

3,341,869 to Whitman; 3,380,087 to Petty; 3,460,170

to Ozier; 3,541,620 to Chapius; 3,584,323 to Worley and 3,639,931 to McGuire. The inner member normally envelops the occupant and will be constructed of wool, cotton or other suitable bedding material. The outer member may typically be a moisture resistant or water-proof material. The insulation used may typically be a down, a fibrous filler or foam. In its most elemental form, a sleeping bag will include generally rectangular upper and lower layers, each layer including an inner and outer member with the insulating material therebetween. One disadvantage of this type of construction is a bunching-up or shifting of the insulation. To remedy this problem, one form of layer construction includes seaming of the inner and outer members together at several locations thereby compartmentalizing the insulation and restricting its movement. An inherent disadvantage in this latter construction is the formation of cold spots along the seams of the inner member. Another approach to sleeping bag construction includes interior baffles, typicallyof a nylon mesh material, which are located at fixed intervals along the layer interior; one endof the baffle being attached to the inner member and the other end to the outer member of the layer. Additionally, the baffles are located so that the attachment stitch to the outer member will be offset from the attachment stitch to the inner member. In this manner, cold spots are prevented along the stitches on the inner member of the layer i.e., cold outside air is prevented from penetrating'the inside of the bag. This foregoing construction, while it provides user comfort, requires a costly manufacturing method particularly since. each baffle must be angled properly and each baffle end must be stitched. The elimination of interior baffles would effect a cost savings in production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION to provide an improved sleeping bag design.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sleeping bag design which is economical to manufacture and which provides maximum warmth and comfort for the user.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a sleeping bag interior of FIG. 1 taken along line 4 -4.

FIG. 4A as encircled shows an enlarged detail and cross-section of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1 showing the manner in which adjacent insulated sections of the blanket or seam and the manner in which a tubular member is formed to lie along a seam for insulation purposes.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view partly broken away taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a sleeping bag indicated generally as 12. The bag includes upper and lower layers 10 and 11 which are generally rectangular and are joined along an edge 13. Closure means 18 is also provided and will typically be'a zipper. Each layer includes an outer shell or member 14 of moisture resistant or waterproof material and an inner shell or member 16 of cotton, -wool or similar material. In FIG. 2, elements 14 and 16 of the bag are shown prior to assembly of the layer. FIG. 3

shows member 16 with series of drill marks 22 which facilitate the stitching of the various elements. Corresponding drill marks (not shown) are located on member 14. Typically,'each set of parallel drill marks will be approximately 3 inches apart and spaced along the surface of members 14 and 16 at approximately 9 inch intervals. These drill marks act asa guide in constructing each layer as will be described shortly.

Referring to the completed assembly shown in FIGS.

4 and 5, stitches 24 have joined members 14 and 16 to form inner tubes 30 and main body tubes 34. Tubes 30 and 34 contain insulation 20; tube 30 effectively covers the stitch area to prevent outside air from penetrating the bag interior. The insulation or filler material 20 may typically be down or fiber fill.

In a typical layer manufacturing operation, the outer and inner members 14 and 16 are precut to the required size and are drill marked for'fstitching (element 22). The members are placed in parallel relationship by an operator who then aligns the drill marks on members l4 and 16, folds these membersto form an inner tube 30 and main body tubes 34 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and runs a line of stitching 24 along the drill marks. The operator then inserts insulation 20 into innertubes 30 and main body tubes 34. This subassernbly is then closed along its edges preferably by stitching to form the upper or lower layer of the sleeping bag. In a subsequent manufacturing operation, the upper and lower 7 layers will be joined and provided with closure means 18 to form a completed sleeping bag.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a wide variety of changes may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. Additionally, certain features may be used independently of others and equivalents may be substituted for the elements, all within the spint and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In an insulated blanket and the like having at least an outer and an inner layer of fabric separated by insulation material, the improvement in fastening said outer and inner layers and said intermediate insulation material so that said layers and material will not shift in relation to each other comprising, a first section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, a second section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, a seam interconnecting adjacent edges of said first and second sections including stitching generally parallel to said layers through portions of said outer and inner layers, and a generally tubular member having edge portions secured to said first and second sections by said stitching and lying along one side of said blanket.

2. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said tubular memlocated within the interior of said bag longitudinally thereof.

4. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said blanket is in the form of a sleeping bag and said tubular member is located within the interior of said bag transversely thereof.

5. The blanket according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member is fomied by continuations of said inner and outer layers lying closely together.

6. in an insulated blanket and the like having at least an outer and an inner layer of fabric separated by insulation material, the improvement in fastening said outer and inner layers and said intermediate insulation material so that said layers and material will not shift in relation to each other comprising, a first section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, a second section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, means for interconnecting adjacent edges of said first and second sections as a seam. a tubular member formed by continuations lying closely together of said first and second layers, said tubular member lying adjacent to said seam along one side of said blanket.

7. The blanket of claim 6 wherein insulation is provided within said tubular member.

8. The blanket of claim 7 wherein said blanket is in the form of a sleeping bag and said tubular member is located within the interior of said bag, there being a plurality .of said members and seams equidistantly spaced within said bag. 

1. In an insulated blanket and the like having at least an outer and an inner layer of fabric separated by insulation material, the improvement in fastening said outer and inner layers and said intermediate insulation material so that said layers and material will not shift in rElation to each other comprising, a first section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, a second section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, a seam interconnecting adjacent edges of said first and second sections including stitching generally parallel to said layers through portions of said outer and inner layers, and a generally tubular member having edge portions secured to said first and second sections by said stitching and lying along one side of said blanket.
 2. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said tubular member is a generally oblate chamber having insulation material therein.
 3. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said blanket is in the form of a sleeping bag and said tubular member is located within the interior of said bag longitudinally thereof.
 4. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said blanket is in the form of a sleeping bag and said tubular member is located within the interior of said bag transversely thereof.
 5. The blanket according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member is formed by continuations of said inner and outer layers lying closely together.
 6. In an insulated blanket and the like having at least an outer and an inner layer of fabric separated by insulation material, the improvement in fastening said outer and inner layers and said intermediate insulation material so that said layers and material will not shift in relation to each other comprising, a first section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, a second section of said blanket wherein said outer and inner layers are generally parallel and separated by said insulation material, means for interconnecting adjacent edges of said first and second sections as a seam, a tubular member formed by continuations lying closely together of said first and second layers, said tubular member lying adjacent to said seam along one side of said blanket.
 7. The blanket of claim 6 wherein insulation is provided within said tubular member.
 8. The blanket of claim 7 wherein said blanket is in the form of a sleeping bag and said tubular member is located within the interior of said bag, there being a plurality of said members and seams equidistantly spaced within said bag. 